By: Anya Firszt, General Manager
Hello, June! Hello, Summer.
June brings plenty of reasons to celebrate, from the last ringing of the school bell to Pride Month, Juneteenth, the summer solstice, and Father’s Day. ‘Tis the season to light up the grill, savor the tastes of summer, and soak in every ray of sunshine.
“Word on the Beet” Produce News
Knowing what’s happening in the Produce department before I get to the Co-op can be a game-changer, saving me time and energy. I always read “Word on the Beet,” a weekly email with updates on new produce items, what’s done for the season, promotions, and sage advice from Andy Johnston, Produce Category Manager. You can also receive these updates; sign up for “Word on the Beet” produce news at willystreet.coop/emails! Don’t miss out—stay informed and make the most of every visit to the Co-op.
Join us for the Rain Garden Sessions every Wednesday evening through September 2, from 5:00 to 7:00pm. Enjoy live music outdoors under the cool shade on the Jenifer Street side of Willy East. Bring your friends, a cozy blanket or chair, and help create a lively audience for our talented local musicians. The season line-up can be found here: www.willystreet.coop/rain-garden-sessions.
Get ready for a delicious adventure at Sprouts Summer Camp at the Co-op, a brand new cooking class series designed for aspiring chefs ages 7 to 14. Join Co-op Instructors Mike Tomaloff and Paul Tseng for hands-on fun from July 20 to 24 and August 24 to 28, with classes running from 11:00am to 12:30pm, Monday through Friday at Willy West. You can sign up for a single class or dive into all ten (sign up for five to receive a Willy Street Co-op apron). If these dates do not fit your summer schedule, explore other Sprouts classes throughout the summer. Register at www.willystreet.coop/events.
Festival season is upon us.
Mad Gluten-Free Fest is on Sunday, June 7, 2:00pm to 6:00pm, at Breese Stevens Field (917 E. Mifflin St., Madison). We’re one of the sponsors of this family-friendly celebration of delicious, gluten-free cuisine featuring local food vendors from across the state. Stop by the tent we’re sharing with Bunky’s!
The Marquette Waterfront Festival is celebrating its 37th year. Join in the festivities June 13–14 at Yahara Park Place for music, food, friends, and cheer.
Make Music Madison (from their website) is a free, citywide day of music held every June 21. Madison is part of Make Music Day, a celebration that occurs in 1,000+ cities across the globe. Madison began participating in 2013 and now boasts the largest event in the country. Parks, porches, restaurants, shops, worship spaces, and more are filled with music for all to enjoy! For more information, check out their website: makemusicday.org.
REMINDERS
Last chance to claim your Fiscal Year 2025 patronage refund store credit (if you received one). You have until June 28, 2026, to use it as store credit toward a purchase, redeem it for cash, or donate it to Double Dollars.
If you want to get Co-op notifications by email, please make sure that we have your current email address. You can update it at Customer Service or by emailing ora@willystreet.coop.
Note about our Fiscal Year
Typically, our fiscal year ends in late June, but this year, it will end in early July. Mark your calendars for Sunday, July 5, the final day of our fiscal year. That day, we will conduct our physical inventory count to verify stock levels for financial reporting purposes and a smooth year-end close. Once the annual audit is complete, we look forward to sharing the FY26 financial highlights with you in the coming months.
Mark your calendar:
- On Saturday, July 4, Independence Day; stores will close at 7:00pm.
- Year-end Inventory Count: Sunday, July 5; stores will close at 7:00pm.
Hope to see you at one of the neighborhood events!
-Anya
